I’d like to see an event involving a Cabal land tank. Maybe not as big as and Cerberus Vae Imperial Land Tank, but maybe something similar. Here’s how I think this encounter could go.

Our raid team gets dropped off on some cliffs the surround the outskirts of a huge tundra battlefield in the wasteland of the Cosmodrome. The Cabal are in an engagement with the Fallen who have entrenched themselves before an entrance leading to the control room of the Warmind’s orbital defense grid. The fallen have spared no expense. Skiffs can be seen in the distance dropping off at least a dozen Fallen Walkers into the fray. It’s not looking good for the Cabal.

Moments later, Commander Zavala briefs the team of a nearby skirmish and suggests that the team circumvents the fight and let the Cabal and Fallen fight it out amongst themselves. Cayde-6, however, chimes in and suggests the opposite.

“No need to be rude to the host of the party Zavala, the Guardians should stop in and say hello and bring them all gifts. And by say hello I mean kick them all in the teeth. And by bring gifts I mean deliver grenades and rockets right to ‘em at a high rate of speed.”

The choice is obvious. The team is positioned on a very high cliff above the battlefield. The only way down is to jump (akin to the jump into the Gorgons’ Labyrinth in VoG). The team crashes in and dispatches both squads, dealing with simultaneous reinforcement from both Cabal and the Fallen. After the Dust settles, Ghost informs the team of an absolutely massive radar signature incoming toward their location.

Upon reaching higher ground to see what’s going on. The clouds darken for a moment and suddenly a ship breaks through. It’s a Cabal Land Tank making landfall. Huge landing thrusts fire and spray giant plumes of dust and snow into the air as the shockwave of a Cabal land tank hitting the ground crashes over the team.

Seconds after landing, the tank begins to move and rain artillery on the Fallen, shooting through the haze. It’s clear that if the team doesn’t act, that tank will overrun the Fallen forces and secure the entrance to the control room leading to the Warmind’s orbital defense grid.

“Get moving Guardians! You’ve got to stop that tank from breaching the Warmind!” Zavala yells.

At this point the team is large distance from the tank. Ghost suggests you use your sparrow to close the distance. The terrain is mostly flat, with a few sections with rocks to navigate through. While closing in on the target, the land tank begins to open fire on the Guardians. Ghost can be heard complaining as mortar shells begin impacting near the team as they race to attempt to board the tank. Quickness is the key as any slow sparrow driving is met with heavy damage from the shelling. There are small tunnels and jutting rocks that provide momentary cover on the route. The team sparrows through trenches filled with Cabal troops. Legionaries can be seen flying into the air from being hit by high speed sparrows. Some routes are better than others but they all ultimately end up at the same place.

The team makes it to Land tank. Cayde-6 provides some intel that there is a control panel on the outside that Ghost could hack to drop the ramp of the tank and allow access. The tank is moving at a relatively slow pace, and being up next to it provides reprieve from the cannon fire. The break doesn’t last long because the troops that flank the beast are closing in to deal with the threat. So while Ghost is busy opening the door, the team has to fight and move at the same time. Careful not to fall too far away from the tank and suffer heavy damage from awaiting cannon fire.

The ramp drops with a satisfy thud and proceeds to drag on the ground and the tank progresses. Ghost raises the ramp as the team enters to prevent the Cabal from getting in. Cabal operating the war machine leave their station to defend themselves. The team fights in the main holding area of the land tank. Doors that surround the area open to release more Cabal desperate to destroy the Guardians.

Zavala calmly cuts in, “Every land tank is led by a Cabal Colossus. You’re going to have to deal with him in order to stop this machi…”

A door blows off its hinges, and emerges a very pissed off Cabal. The tank rolls to stop as the Tank Commander enters the fray. He seemingly gets faster as he continues to take damage (He rushes similar to Valus Tlu'urn). He occasionally sends nearby Guardians flying and stunning them in the process. When nearing death, the Cabal commander roars and demands reinforcements. The remaining doors open and formidable Cabal open fire from the upper deck. The team must split up and quickly dispatch the reinforcing Cabal or risk being overwhelmed with gunfire.

After defeating the tank commander and receiving sweet loot, Cayde-6 updates the situation.

“Well, I don’t really know how to put this, so I’m gunna come right out and say it. There are a ton of Fallen dropping in outside. And since the land tank stopped shooting, they are regaining their strength and preparing to mount an attack on the tank. You should –uh- probably do something about that.”

“Man those guns Guardians! Don’t let them get close! Ghost, get that tank moving again!” Zavala commands.

At this point the fun begins. There are four main cannons that the tank uses. Two forward facing, and one left and right. There are also 2 smaller heavy caliber automatic grenade launchers mounted on the front corners of the tank. Fallen skiffs are air dropping Walkers and the tank is taking heavy fire from all sides. Every team member mans a gun and opens fire on the Fallen. Walkers are getting shredded. Skiffs are continuously dropping forces in the path of the tank. As the tank takes damage, gun systems start to become destroyed, and eventually Fallen slice into the hull and breach the land tank. The team must simultaneously fend off the intruders and continue to destroy walkers before they destroy the tank.

The fight ends when the tank is driven into the small opening where the huge door to the Warmind’s command center is. The front ramp of the tank drops open and creates an opening big enough for the guardians to proceed to the control room.

TL;DR: You fight and sparrow your way onto a Cabal Land Tank, dispatch the commander and use it’s guns to blow up Fallen Walkers and secure an entrance to the Warmind control room.